NYFW Returns as Omicron Hovers
As the men shows kick-off, the official schedule for New York Fashion Week F/W 2022 season was unveiled this week and yes, all the juggernauts will be there. Tom Ford, Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, Proenza Schouler, and Anna Sui will join the buzzworthy moments of Peter Do, Dion Lee, and the welcomed runway return of Telfar after two years. Held from February 11 to February 16, the Council of Fashion Designers of America and IMG will be enforcing COVID protocols including mandatory vaccination, mask-wearing indoors, and smaller audiences but the threat of the Omicron variant means the schedule is still subject to change. Told to Vogue.com, Steven Kolb alluded to the many challenges the impending week-long event faces, “As the Omicron variant continues to present challenges at every level, I am looking forward to seeing the ways in which designers continue to present their collections in creative, innovative ways with an eye to the safety of all fashion week stakeholders.” Some brands will be hosting digital-only presentations like Area, Et Ochs, Sandy Liang, and Theophilio while other noticeably absent names from the calendar include Christopher John Rogers, Pyer Moss, Rodarte, and Monse. [TheDailyFrontRow]
Couture is Happening, Too
Couture Fashion Week is set to return as well from January 24th to 27th on the heels of news that Giorgio Armani pulled his Armani Prive show from the calendar due to Omicron surges in Europe. 16 brands will soldier on with in-person audiences including Dior, Chanel, Fendi along with the return of Valentino to Paris after showing its collections in Italy and online for the last three seasons. After this summer’s couture collab with Sacai’s Chitose Abe, Jean Paul Gaultier will team up with Diesel and Y/Project frontman Glenn Martens for a one-off couture collection and the brand’s 2nd installment in its couturier series. Daniel Roseberry’s Schiaparelli will also return to the runway for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began. Special guests on the calendar include Azzaro Couture, Charles de Vilmorin, Imane Ayissi, Ralph Rucci, Yuima Nakazato, and Zuhair Murad.
[WWD]
Rihanna Taps Into Brick and Mortar For SavageXFenty
Global artist and serial entrepreneur, Rihanna has decided to venture into brick and mortars this year, by opening 5 physical stores for lingerie brand SavageXFenty. The boutique-like stores will open up in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Houston, Philadelphia, and Washington DC. Rihanna said on Instagram, “We bout to bring you a whole new #SavageXFenty experience with the launch of our brick-and-mortar retail stores! can’t believe it’s actually that time, and I can’t wait for you to have this experience IRL.” [Vogue]
Condé Nast Launches Vogue Philippines
This week, Condé Nast announced the launch of Vogue Philippines, the 29th edition to join the global franchise. The new publication’s print and digital platforms will debut in September of this year and are set to cover street style to couture to everything else. Markus Grindel, managing director of global brand licensing at Condé Nast said, “We’re thrilled to launch our 29th edition of Vogue in the Philippines, a country with a growing luxury fashion market and a vibrant creative scene.” [Fashionista]
Tommy Hilfiger Collabs With Richard Quinn and Martine Rose Are Loading
Tommy Hilfiger is looking to London for his new set of designer collaborations.Richard Quinn and Martine Rose collections will launch in September and are part of the collaborations between Hilfiger and international designers called “World of Hilfiger”. Quinn’s premium collection will feature a new logo, while Rose is focused on a collab for Tommy Jeans. [WWD]
New York’s Promising Fashion Act Bill
Sustainability efforts have increased in the industry, although there are hardly any set regulations for supply chain/transparency. New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi wants to change that, last week Friday she and Assemblywoman Anna R. Kelles announced a bill to tackle this issue. The Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act/Fashion Act is a bill that if passed will require “fashion retail sellers and manufacturers to disclose environmental and social due diligence policies ” This law will apply to global apparel and footwear companies, with more than $100 million in revenues, that do business in New York. If passed, New York could be the first state in the US to hold large fashion corporations accountable for their role in increasing global carbon emissions. [NYT]
